第56部分(第3/7 頁)

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hand　to　unfasten　the　buttons　of　her　glove；　to　push　back　her

glove　from　her　hand；　carefully　laying　bare　her　hand。　And　the

close…working；　instinctive　subtlety　of　his　fingers　upon　her　hand

sent　the　young　girl　mad　with　voluptuous　delight。　His　hand　was　so

wonderful；　intent　as　a　living　creature　skilfully　pushing　and

manipulating　in　the　dark　underworld；　removing　her　glove　and

laying　bare　her　palm；　her　fingers。　Then　his　hand　closed　over

hers；　so　firm；　so　close；　as　if　the　flesh　knitted　to　one　thing

his　hand　and　hers。　Meanwhile　his　face　watched　the　road　and　the

ears　of　the　horse；　he　drove　with　steady　attention　through　the

villages；　and　she　sat　beside　him；　rapt；　glowing；　blinded　with　a

new　light。　Neither　of　them　spoke。　In　outward　attention　they　were

entirely　separate。　But　between　them　was　the　pact　of　his　flesh

with　hers；　in　the　hand…clasp。

Then；　in　a　strange　voice；　affecting　nonchalance　and

superficiality　he　said　to　her：

〃Sitting　in　the　church　there　reminded　me　of　Ingram。〃

〃Who　is　Ingram？〃　she　asked。

She　also　affected　calm　superficiality。　But　she　knew　that

something　forbidden　was　ing。

〃He　is　one　of　the　other　men　with　me　down　at　Chatham……a

subaltern……but　a　year　older　than　I　am。〃

〃And　why　did　the　church　remind　you　of　him？〃

〃Well；　he　had　a　girl　in　Rochester；　and　they　always　sat　in　a

particular　corner　in　the　cathedral　for　their　love…making。〃

〃How　nice！〃　she　cried；　impulsively。

They　misunderstood　each　other。

〃It　had　its　disadvantages　though。　The　verger　made　a　row　about

it。〃

〃What　a　shame！　Why　shouldn't　they　sit　in　a　cathedral？〃

〃I　suppose　they　all　think　it　a　profanity……